Monday, September 26, 2011

The beginning & Paramaribo


So I really should have started this thing sooner and probably not in the hotel room in Paramaribo, Suriname. Maybe before I left? Nah.

Anyway, I thought this blog could serve two purposes: 1) to allow my friends, family members and various creepers to see what's going on in my life 2) to share information on the process of getting to/living in Guyane for anyone interested in working here with the TAPIF program in the future. Donc, on y va.


When I was applying for TAPIF I was looking at the overseas departments because the idea was just really neat. Besides, I was living in Benin so everything else was really just an upgrade. Martinique? Reunion? GUYANE?? In South America? That sounded pretty awesome. That was my rationale for choosing French Guiana. I applied from Benin, West Africa (google it) while serving in the Peace Corps and I was accepted in early April 2011 to the Academie de Guyane (sorry about the lack of accent marks, it involves some effort I'm not really willing to expend). As far as I know, there are 6 or 7 other American teaching assistants going to Guyane, but I guess I will find out tomorrow when I arrive in Cayenne.

So you may have noticed that I didn't fly into Cayenne (the capital of French Guiana). It is so much cheaper to fly into Paramaribo, Suriname than it is to fly into Cayenne. To fly from Miami to Paramaribo (one way), I paid $279 on Caribbean Airlines. However, it is a little more complicated and time consuming to fly into Paramaribo, because you have to get a visa for Suriname. It took about a week for me to get it, but the paperwork wasn't bad. I am really interested to see how the overland travel from Paramaribo to Cayenne will go. Tomorrow I am taking a taxi to Albina, at the border, and then some sort of boat (on va voir) and then another taxi into Cayenne-meme.

I would also like to recommend the Guesthouse Amice if you are going to Paramaribo. It is a great place to stay - the room is pretty cheap (35 euro/night for a single, no balcony) and kind of fancy (hard wood floors, air conditioning, hot shower, wifi - I am living the dream). Plus, the staff is helpful and there's breakfast in the morning. Also, they are setting up my taxi for tomorrow's voyage to Albina.

Also, so far from what I've seen, Paramaribo is a cool city. It's weird, and kind of developed (especially compared to West Africa) but kind of not (h-ello shanties and trash in the street), but eclectic with friendly people and terrible, terrible beer. Sorry. Your beer is terrible, Suriname. But your taxis have seat belts! Yay!


So, I am trying to get some pictures to upload but we'll see how that really ends up.







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